New York City Sued Over Violations of Solitary Confinement Law On Rikers Island

On September 23, 2025, the Legal Aid Society with pro bono counsel Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, filed a lawsuit against the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) over violations of a state law against long-term solitary confinement on Rikers Island. The complaint, Catala et al v. New York, alleges that the DOC had repeatedly violated the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in prisons and jails throughout New York State.

The lead plaintiffs in Catala et al v. New York qualify as members of special populations that . . .